Thomas Junta, who beat to death another man in front of frightened children after an argument over rough play during their sons' ice hockey practice, was convicted of involuntary manslaughter yesterday in a trial that threw a spotlight on parental violence at youth sports events.
A Massachusetts jury of nine women and three men rejected the more-serious charge of voluntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Costin last year. Jurors claimed a middle ground between prosecution claims that Junta lost control and brutally beat Costin and the defense position that Junta was a gentle giant defending himself from attacks by an enraged man.
Junta, a 43-year-old, 124 kg truck driver, weighed more than 45 kg more than Costin, 40. Costin never regained consciousness after the July 5th, 2000, incident and died the next day.
Junta was charged in the beating death of Costin, who was supervising a practice session in which both men's children played. He faces up to 20 years in prison, but state sentencing guidelines suggest a lesser term of three to five years for first offenders like Junta.
Sentencing was set for January 25th.